mslim
Well-known member
Yeah good point here. I had a lot of chrome SAE 1/2" drive in the '80's and I was hand working on US classic cars and trucks. I think now I'd just go with impacts. I'm just using 1/4" and 3/8" drive for everything.
Sockets!: Need to start over - 1/4 - 3/8 - 1/2"
- Thread starter mroneeyedboh
- Start date
Disagree. You get an awful lot from JH Williams. For all the people who complain about Snap On prices here, Williams offers really nice USA made tools, that look almost exactly like Snap On for a fraction of the price. Williams is exactly what GJ members ask for and then don't choose.
I don't really see the attraction of choosing Taiwan made stuff when you can get similar quality from the USA. And it's not just about supporting one country over another. We have seen everyone's favorite Taiwan tools come and go. Taiwan manufacturers fade quality just like China does. Tekton might be good now, but where will they be in 5 years? Look at Sunnex.
If you are Asian, love Asian tools, work only on Asian cars or you just want Taiwan tools, I'd recommend made in Taiwan Williams or Bluepoint. Quality has been consistent. They have the backing of an enormous tool company. As far as we know, they use fair trade practices, aren't stealing IP from anyone else, and last I looked they were just as cheap as anything else. They may well be sharing manufacturing sources with other popular Taiwan tools making them essentially rebrands.
I have no beef with Tekton. I like the webpage and the tools look fine to me. I have some Taiwan tools myself and they are fine. But you aren't buying 1000s of sockets. You need maybe 4-8 sets of chrome sockets to work on cars efficiently. Those sockets could well last you your life time. Why not choose locally made? If you love Snap On hard handle screwdrivers but can't bring yourself to paying the Snap On price, don't pick Tekton's version, just buy Williams. They are the real deal. Williams is exactly what GJ members ask for and don't seem to buy.
I don't know about anyone else but alot of days I think just getting up out of bed is hard work.
I get what you are saying, and don't wholly disagree. I find Tekton, by and large, to be pretty unappealing. There screwdrivers, however, are made in the US, and are pretty darned good. I have SnapOn, Williams, and Tekton hard handles in the box. The SnapOn and Williams are absolutely nicer...but the Tektons dont give much up, are available in a much wider variety, and are considerably cheaper.
I like buying US made, and try to do so as much as is practical. The Tekton drivers make it easy.
Hohn
Well-known member
Truly. Very few automotive fasteners now are through-threaded and need any kind of long socket. A nano socket can cover almost everything on the car IME using them the last two years.
A better use overall than proliferating sockets is proliferating automotive "specialty" tools that are true game changers: a good pair of spring clamp pliers, electrical connector pliers, hose picks, etc.
Especially with modern vehicles that have plumbing and wiring everywhere, the actual fasteners are a small (and shrinking) part of the work.
Purely anecdotal, but the only Williams screwdriver I have (SDP-2-4), the tip is ground off center.
Hohn
Well-known member
+1 for Williams.
Admittedly, the only Williams I own is a double DBE wrenches in common japanese car sizes. Amazon shows them as MIUSA, and maybe they are for $25/each or so.
They are satin finish, fit fasteners very well and feel GREAT in hand. These are my favorite offset DBEs by far. I would absolutely consider any Williams tool for a short list.
Williams (like Wright) is one of those companies making superb quality tools that nobody hears about because they don't market to home gamers, they are primarily industrial and not automotive.
Ohio Andy
Well-known member
Did you ask for a warranty replacement?
Mine all look great and I own a couple of sets.
I like these much more than the newest wright blue handled screwdrivers. Wright just changed the design, they used to have a very large clear red handle. I just wanted to try them and any place that drop ships will show you a photo of the older red variety but will ship you the newer blue variety.
honestly I never thought much about Williams. I just went to there site and looks like this
so now I got to look through all 125 things to find the mid length sockets. Had to scroll through 6 pages separate. Don’t see any mid length sockets. Do them make them? Idk the website is real bad.
do they sell singles when I lose one? Idk I seen Zoro selling singles of some Williams sockets but have to buy in multiples of 2.
they don’t sell direct so now I got to search multiple places for a good price and cheapest shipping.
this isn’t real consumer friendly.
Like someone else said here I think they just don’t want to deal with regular people. Just want to sell to factories using tools in bulk
Must have been made at the end of the day on Friday and the worker was rushing!
Ohio Andy
Well-known member
honestly I never thought much about Williams. I just went to there site and looks like this
so now I got to look through all 125 things to find the mid length sockets. Had to scroll through 6 pages separate. Don’t see any mid length sockets. Do them make them? Idk the website is real bad.
do they sell singles when I lose one? Idk I seen Zoro selling singles of some Williams sockets but have to buy in multiples of 2.
they don’t sell direct so now I got to search multiple places for a good price and cheapest shipping.
this isn’t real consumer friendly.
Like someone else said here I think they just don’t want to deal with regular people. Just want to sell to factories using tools in bulk
Try sun Coast tools , easier to search
four.cycle
Well-known member
I would think you want 1/2 drive if you work on car suspension systems in the rust belt. At least with the sizes needed and some longer handle ratchets and/or breaker bars.
Nah, I mean - I might if it starts affecting its performance, but I honestly would
have never noticed if I wasn't looking at the tip serrations under a magnifier.
thool
Well-known member
Correct. I live in the rust belt and pretty much any under-car work involves a 1/2" drive socket.
Just to be clear tho: 1/2" sockets are a must, but not necessarily 1/2" chrome.
Basskiller
Well-known member
Oh ffs! Now Garagejournal is advocating that all the tools aren’t needed.
*disclaimer to some of our more “special” members. The above was sarcasm. The disclaimer is heartfelt.
*disclaimer to some of our more “special” members. The above was sarcasm. The disclaimer is heartfelt.
What about that 1973 Chevy exhaust that needs a 23mm universal mid length 3/8 drive socket to take off
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If I was starting over I’d buy the Quinn 3/8” master set from Harbor Freight. I’d buy Vevor 1/2” impacts from Amazon or eBay. Then I’d go to Walmart and buy the Hart 1/4” set that’s in the plastic case that looks like a set of drill bits I think it’s like $24.
In the last 3 or 4 years I can’t think of a single time I’ve needed a 1/4” deep socket or a 1/2” shallow.
Ive had good luck with Harbor Freight ratchets and breaker bars.
I’ve owned a bit of everything over the years but these are the tools that I’ve been reaching for first here lately. Zero problems and perform shockingly well given their price points.
I’ve also been beating on a set of Duratech wrenches for over 3 years out in the field working on junk equipment and think you’d be hard pressed to find anything better. Maybe I got lucky!
I know my opinion is an unpopular one on this forum but I can’t see the draw to Tekton. I’ve tried several sets and always end up selling them off and looking for something else. I certainly don’t have a problem using cheap tools, but I can’t quite put my finger on why I don’t like Tekton. Here lately they seem to be pricing themselves out of the game.
In the last 3 or 4 years I can’t think of a single time I’ve needed a 1/4” deep socket or a 1/2” shallow.
Ive had good luck with Harbor Freight ratchets and breaker bars.
I’ve owned a bit of everything over the years but these are the tools that I’ve been reaching for first here lately. Zero problems and perform shockingly well given their price points.
I’ve also been beating on a set of Duratech wrenches for over 3 years out in the field working on junk equipment and think you’d be hard pressed to find anything better. Maybe I got lucky!
I know my opinion is an unpopular one on this forum but I can’t see the draw to Tekton. I’ve tried several sets and always end up selling them off and looking for something else. I certainly don’t have a problem using cheap tools, but I can’t quite put my finger on why I don’t like Tekton. Here lately they seem to be pricing themselves out of the game.
Kscardsfan
Well-known member
Depends on the day and the night before, but I agree.I don't know about anyone else but alot of days I think just getting up out of bed is hard work.
25 years later and they're still omitting either the 12mm or (for me) 14mm
drokihazan
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2018
- Messages
- 277
Huge fan of Capri here, would definitely recommend them as a Tekton alternative